Like John Coltrane, James L. Dean got some of his first experience

JerseyReviewsJazzBook Review | Playing the Changes:Milt Hinton’s Life in Stories and PhotographsBu Milt Hinton, David G. Berger and Holly MaxsonVanderbilt University Press, Nashville | 364 Pages, Illus., CD included, $75.00By Joe Lang NJJS Music Committee ChairMilt Hinton was primarily known as ajazz bassist, but, as has been shown inthree books, he was also a sensitive andaccomplished photographer and raconteur.The latest of these volumes, Playing theChanges, is a treasure trove for jazz fans.The story of Milt Hinton’s life is one of aman who rose from extremely humblebeginnings to a place at the top of his chosenfield. Along the way, he experienced manytrying times, saw first-hand the scourge ofracism, took advantage of the strong valuesimplanted in him by his family, particularlyhis maternal grandmother, and used hiscourage, intelligence, sensitivity and talentto succeed in the many areas of his life.His story starts in Vicksburg, Mississippi onJune 23, 1910. His father was gone from thefamily by the time Hinton was three monthsold. He lived with his mother and her twosisters, but was primarily raised by his“Mama,” his maternal grandmother, thewoman who kept the family together. Hehad no meaningful contact with his fatheruntil he was playing a gig in Memphis withCab Calloway in 1940, and his father showedup to hear him. Hinton relates many talesfrom his childhood in Mississippi, includingthe harrowing experience of witnessingfirst-hand the lynching of a black man.Eventually, the family migrated to Chicago,following the lead of Hinton’s two uncles,Bob and Matt. It was in Chicago that he firstbecame involved in music. He started onviolin at the age of 13, but switched to basswhile at Wendell Phillips High School, aschool with an outstanding music program.Hinton’s instrument switch was influencedby the onset of talking movies, when heobserved that the demand for violinists suddenlysubsided as the need for live musiciansto play along with silent movies receded.Hinton became involved in all aspects of themusic program at Wendell Phillips, and wasselected to play bass in the Chicago All CityOrchestra. Following graduation, Hintonattended Crane JuniorCollege, and then, for abrief time, NorthwesternUniversity.Quite fascinating are hisstories of his non-musical lifein Chicago. His Uncle Mattwas involved with many shadypeople, and at one point gotMilt a job working for a bootleggerinvolved with AlCapone. The interlude in thebook devoted to this shortphase of Hinton’s life is aterrific read. This is but oneof several stories foundthroughout that are notdirectly related to music, butare welcome additions to thelife story that Hinton relates.Playing music, however, wasHinton’s primary focus in life.He started playing professionallywhile still in highschool, and it did not takehim very long at Northwesternto realize that music was his true calling. Heunderstood that the sooner he devoted himselfcompletely to playing music, the betterchance he had to develop professionally. Heplayed with several bands around Chicago,most notably in that of Erskine Tate. His bigbreak came with the opportunity to join thegroup of the renowned jazz violinist EddieSouth, with whom Hinton toured extensivelyuntil the demand for South and his groupwaned. Hinton stayed around Chicago until,in 1936, he was recommended to fill thevacant bass position in the Cab Callowayband by trombonist Keg Johnson, who hadplayed in a band in Chicago with Hinton.This began an association that lasted untilthe early 1950s when Cab’s star dimmed,and Hinton had to find other sources ofincome. His lengthy stay with Callowayoccupies a significant portion of this book.The portraits that Hinton paints of themany personalities on the band, the bandstories, and the insight that he offers intothe life of a musician on the road are relatedin a style that is articulate, engaging, amusingand informative. There are larger than lifedepictions of players like “Chu” Berry, BenWebster, “Dizzy” Gillespie, and, of course,Cab. The famous “spitball” story is related indetail. There are several incidents demonstratingthe tribulations that the bandendured due to racism.Following, his stay with Calloway, Hintonmade New York City his home base andfound his way into the world of freelancestudio work. Playing for radio and televisionshows, commercial jingle sessions, jazz andpopular recordings, and an occasional livejazz gig dominated Hinton’s professional lifeuntil the late 1960s, when there was a falloffcontinued on page 45May 2008___________________________________ 43